Match preview: Albion Rovers

STEVIE Farrell leads his Stranraer side into battle against Albion Rovers tomorrow (Saturday) in good shape.

The Blues travel to Coatbridge fresh from a commanding performance against another North Lanarkshire side

Farrell's men were comfortable 3-1 winners against Airdrieonians last weekend at Stair Park, a victory the manager described as "pleasing".

He said: "I think what probably clicked more on Saturday was that consistency.

"We were very, very good.

"Apart from a ten minute spell in the second half I thought we bossed the game, and we played at a real intensity with and without the ball.

"When we play like that - as proven on Saturday, and in other games we've played - we can compete in this league with most teams.

"So it was pleasing, and a thoroughly deserved victory."

Arguably the only low point from an action-packed afternoon was a sending off for Scott Robertson, who was shown a straight red after kicking the ball out from underneath a fallen player.

Robertson will miss two games as a result, but otherwise the manager has a full squad to choose from - including last week's Man of the Match Grant Anderson.

Anderson shrugged off a knock to score a double either side of Scott Agnew's perfectly-placed penalty kick, before coming off injured.

However, the winger revealed to the official website he's back in contention once again.

Despite the renewed sense of optimism at Stair Park, Albion Rovers have been in fine form themselves, winning three games on the road against Queen's Park, Forfar and Arbroath.

Brian Kerr will be looking for his side to pick up their home form, having lost both fixtures at Cliftonhill.

Meanwhile, Stranraer will look to record their first away win, having lost to Raith and drawn at Queen's Park.

Farrell said: "Albion Rovers are sitting third in the league on merit.

"It's difficult in this league to win games of football, and they've done that - so they've got to be respected for that."

Cliftonhill has a reputation as one of the more difficult venues in the lower leagues, with an unpredictable playing surface and a unique atmosphere.

The Blues haven't won at the ground since 12 March 2016, when Jamie Longworth's solitary strike was the difference between the teams.

And Farrell is predicting a similarly tough contest this time around.

He said: "We know it's going to be a difficult task in terms of the environment.

"But we go there in form - we're four unbeaten over the last five games.

"It should be a good game, with two teams that seem to be in a wee bit of form playing each other, so we're looking forward to the game."Last meeting

Scorers: Willis (34), Wallace (75), OG Neill (81).

ON THE weekend of the Grand National, Stranraer were not at the races at Cliftonhill.

Winger Willie Gibson was only fit enough for the bench after suffering from tonsillitis, and Stranraer suffered a further blow just before the half hour mark when captain Steven Bell went off with an injury.

It would be just five minutes later that Albion broke the deadlock, as a fine sweeping move down the right saw the ball played across the box and swept home by Willis.

With 15 minutes left to play, a cross from the right was not dealt with and current Blues ace Ryan Wallace touched home for Rovers after the ball came back off the post.

Things went from bad to worse moments later when Morgyn Neill turned a low cross past his own goalkeeper to round off a rotten afternoon.